Eyes, Mind, Heart

Today's Flowers - One Year Anniversary

2009-08-09T10:04:00.000-07:00

Congratulation to the Today's Flowers team on a wonderful year of flowers from all over the world!

My new job and travel time doesn't give me much time to blog and visit everyone. I really miss it. So, I was determined to spend some time blogging. I feel like it's been so long I can't even remember which days I'm supposed to do which memes. I think I've got this one right. We'll soon find out.

I don't know what this little flower is. It was growing in a pot in my sister's back yard and the flower was probably no bigger than my thumbnail but I thought it was really pretty.

If you like flowers, check out the link below for more photos from bloggers participating in Today's Flowers.

I Miss Blogging!

2009-07-25T08:57:00.001-07:00

Where do I even begin to catch up for the two weeks that I haven't been able to touch my blog? Even now as I sit here I know I shouldn't be as I've got so much to do but I just had to post something and visit some of the blogs I've really missed. I missed the memes and everything! I haven't even taken any photos and I'm going through withdrawal.

The only photos I've taken were from a meet 'n greet and I'm posting two of the views from the balcony of the hotel banquet room we rented for the party. In the first shot, the streaks of light on the bottom are actually car lights from the cars on the freeway. I think it's pretty cool the way it turned out.

Okay, so here's the story. I'd been unemployed for over a year and Praise God I FINALLY got a job. Let's just say that it's not close to me and from the time I get up to the time I get home it's about 14 hrs. That only leaves 10 hrs. to my day, and since I have some things to do when I get home, like eat, wash some clothes, return a call or two... my sleep time has been about 6 hrs. a day.

And to top everything else off, I'm so low on funds it's not funny. Some people live paycheck to paycheck. I'm living just to get to my first check. My unemployment ran out a month before my start day so I've had NO money coming in except what I could borrow and it's so hard for me to reach out my hand and ask for help because I've never had to. At the moment I've got $10 to my name and need a full tank of gas to make it to work next week. No credit cards to fall back on because all my bills are late but thank God they're willing to work with me and I know that some how, some way, God will continue to supply all my needs. I'm not joking when I say he's met all my needs during the time I was unemployed and I know He won't stop now. He didn't carry me through this race to drop me just inches before the finish line.

It was easy for me to see how people become depressed and suicidal without God's love and support behind them to keep them strong and focused. If you haven't been here, it's not easy to know you've got no money coming in and everything around you is falling apart, needs to be fixed, creditors are calling nonstop looking for money you don't have and there is nothing you can do about it. Trust me when I say that ANYONE can go from having everything to having nothing. I was a thin line away from losing it all but Praise God that I am still in my house and that the end is in sight.

Anyhoo...for anyone who wants to know where I've been the past 2 weeks and why, this is my life, this is my story. I give myself another couple of weeks before I can waste gas going somewhere to take photos again. I miss getting out taking photos but there is a light at the end of my tunnel, Praise God, and I'm focused on that light.

Camera Critters

2009-07-11T09:05:00.000-07:00

Just some of the little critters that entertained me on a trip to Descanso Gardens.

If you like these little critters you should check out the Camera Critters meme for a wide variety of little cutie critters by clicking on the icon below:

Sky Watch Friday

2009-07-09T12:59:00.001-07:00

This is the wonderfully cloudy sky as I was driving up the 15 Freeway past Norco, going uphill as I headed to the Wine and Balloon festival last month in Temecula. I loved the way the sky looked over the hills on both sides of the freeway. I wish the images really captured the total view. The rolling hills are beautiful when they're are all green after a rain. Now they are all dry but their golden color is still beautiful in its own right.

To participate in Sky Watch Friday and/or to see more great photos of the sky from all over the world Click here or on the Sky Watch Icon below:

Watery Wednesday #43

2009-07-07T12:00:00.001-07:00

It's that time of the week. Time to get those eyes wet with water shots. If you haven't already done so, join in. Stick those feet in cyber waters from around the world.

I hope that I'm not the only one who likes this shot.

Click here or on the image/icon below to participate and visit other watery posts:

My World Tuesday - Sew what?

2009-07-06T10:03:00.001-07:00

I've been sewing since I was in elementary school. I remember sewing my 6th grade graduation dress. Sewing has been a major part of my world as is my love of fabrics. Put me in a fabric store and I lose my mind. LOL!

At one point I made and sold lingerie. I loved it but I have this problem with not wanting to sew the same thing over and over and the last house party I did wore me out. Long story but I took a break from it and never picked it back up. But I still have a lot of the different colored laces and elastics, satin straps, etc. that I used to use.

Now that I'm finally going back to work my wardrobe has been in dire need of updating but since my funds are really tight my only option has been to pull out the sewing machine again and work on all of the fabric I've been collecting (smile). I think I made ten tops last week.

The photo above is of some lace I added to a top I made and the one below is of my collection of buttons that are in this huge tackle box. This doesn't even show all of the buttons in the box. I miss a store I used to visit where they had buttons in this huge box for like a penny a piece. Everytime I went I would sit on the floor and go through buttons. I have a whole lot of patience when it's something I really want.

I've got bins of thread, lace, patterns, notions, needles, etc., etc. Below is just one of the purses I've made. Yeah, sewing is a big part of my world.

Take a cyber trip around the world by visiting the meme My World Tuesday.

Mellow Yellow Monday

2009-07-06T09:56:00.000-07:00

Visit Mellow Yellow Monday, the brightest meme on the internet, and brighten up your day.

Independence Day

2009-07-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

Today, July 4th, is Independence Day (or 4th of July), in the United States. It is a national holiday commemorating the Declaration of Independence adopted July 4, 1776 and our independence from England. We celebrate with family and friends with picnics, barbecues, fireworks, parades, etc. Happy 4th of July to all Americans and sending up a special prayer for our service men and women wherever they may be.

These are just a few of my fireworks shots from last year. I'll be at my brothers and probably won't get a chance to take any shots like this this year. Oh well.

Watery Wednesday #42

2009-07-01T10:06:00.001-07:00

I've been really busy trying to prep for my new job. I needed new clothes and couldn't buy them so I've been sewing my tushy off. I take little breaks and respond to comments as time permits. I hope everyone is enjoying their Watery Wednesday. If you don't know what I'm talking about I think you should click on the link at the bottom of this post and take a cyber dive in Watery Wednesday! You won't regret the cyber swim.

A few weeks ago my sister brought her grand children out and they spend the day with me on my birthday. We spend some time up and the lake by me and the kids, my great niece and nephew, had a wonderful time at the lake feeding the ducks and throwing rocks into the water. I tried to make sure they didn't do it in the water near where people were fishing and scaring the fish away.

At one point we saw a couple of men leisurely canoeing on the lake and I had to take a couple of shots when we notice they each had a dog with them (identical dogs), and the dogs seemed to be enjoying that leisure ride as much as they were.

We thought they were such beautiful dogs we talked to them later to ask what they were and found out they got them at puppies at the pound. They rescued these beautiful dogs and to me it made both them and the owners very special.

Click here or on the image/icon below to participate and visit other watery posts:

Monochrome Maniacs

2009-06-28T17:08:00.001-07:00

Click here if you'd like to see more Monochrome Maniacs monochrome shots from participants around the world.

Today's Flowers - Magnolias

2009-06-28T16:34:00.001-07:00

I've always loved magnolia blossoms, especially the white ones like the ones I've posted today. I'm fascinated by these big, beautiful blooms in the trees, some bigger than my face as I walk up to them (if I'm lucky enough to find them low on a tree).

I think they're beautiful even when they've begun to age and they become a brownish color.

If you like flowers, check out the link below for more photos from bloggers participating in Today's Flowers.

Camera Critters - Butterflies

2009-06-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

More photos from my last trip to the Butterfly Pavillion at the History Museum in Los Angeles. I'm not even going to pretend to know for sure what these are so please correct me if I'm wrong. You can click on any image for a larger view.

Julia (?) & White Peacock (?)

Julia & ?

Cabbage white:

Buckeye:

Painted Lady?

And this little Buckeye landed on my arm and stayed there while I walked around and took photos. Some of the kids there were jealous. Na Na-na-na Na! LOL!

If you like these little critters you should check out the Camera Critters meme for a wide variety of little cutie critters by clicking on the icon below:

Michael Jackson Dies

2009-06-25T16:28:00.000-07:00

Image from cnn.com

I'm sure by now everyone has heard of the fact that Michael Jackson died a short while ago of complete cardiac failure. Click Here for a CNN new brief. I'm sitting watching the news that has taken over every channel as they await a press briefing but they are waiting until the entire family arrives.

How sad. How very sad. He was truly an icon in music. There was no one like Michael Jackson. No matter what anyone says, or whether anyone liked him or not, I don't think anyone can deny that Michael Jackson was musical genius.

He had a rare quality that few entertainers had in that he continued to touch each new generation that game into the world. Both children and adults were touched my his music during his entire life.

I grew up listening to this man from the time he was a boy (he's just a year younger than me). I always thought he was genius and with genius sometimes comes the slightly "off" personality. I always pictured him as the man who simply wanted to live the childhood he felt denied of, in many ways a child himself.

Michael Jackson, may you rest in peace. You will be missed.

Watery Wednesday #41

2009-06-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

If you haven't checked out Watery Wednesday, what are you waiting for? If you've never been cyber wet, here's your chance! Click here or on the icon at the end of the post to visit my Watery Wednesday meme and see the wonderful variety of watery shots form all over the world.

Click here or on the image/icon below to participate and visit other watery posts:

My World Tuesday - The Corpse Flower

2009-06-23T07:13:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Ebie over at The Main Ingredient I found out at the Huntingon Library Museum & Botanical Gardens had the Corpse Flower and that it was in bloom so I took the day went to see it. You can also see her blog about it if you Click here.

The Amorphorphallus Titanum (Corpse Flower) grows in the Conservatory at the Huntington Library (pictured above). I wasn't surprised by the number of people in attendance and that I had to wait in line.

It was like being in line for a ride at Disneyland as the line twisted and turned to accommodate the number of people and it moved VERY slowly. I was surprised at my patience.

I had to throw in the photo below because as you're standing in line mist is periodically released in the massive greenhouse and thought it's enough to make you worry about your hair-do it's still pretty cool.

And then finally I got to see the Corpse Flower standing there among the other lush greenery. It was probably about 5-1/2 feet tall and... I didn't smell a thing. I've got to say I was a little disappointed. I was all prepared to turn up my nose and just deal with the "aroma".

I think I was let down by it not having an aroma but I think the shots came out great and I left the conservatory and visited the rest of the botanical gardens, some of which I've already posted. My Waddle Waddle Quack Quack post is from the same day's photos.

You can Click Here to read more information about this flower at the Huntington Library's website.

Take a cyber trip around the world by visiting the meme My World Tuesday.

Mellow Yellow Monday

2009-06-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

Visit Mellow Yellow Monday, the brightest meme on the internet, and brighten up your day.

Monochrome Maniacs - The Painter

2009-06-21T07:52:00.001-07:00

I usually visit Descanso Gardens during the week. I've been able to do that since I haven't been working. But I went on the weekend and discovered that a lot of people go to sit in the Japanese Garden to paint. It made me wish I could paint. This is just one of the people I captured. They capture images with a brush. I capture them with my camera.

Click here if you'd like to see more Monochrome Maniacs monochrome shots from participants around the world.

Today's Flowers

2009-06-20T22:36:00.001-07:00

These were taken at my last trip to the Huntington Library Museum & Botanical Gardens near Pasadena, California. I went to see the Stinky Plant (not the real name but I'll post it later), and I saw these water lilies in the Chinese Garden.

The shot above is just one view from the Chinese Garden. This one shows where the lily pads were located.

These were so large that if you hold up your palms and hold your hands together the flower would fill your hands.

I don't remember ever seeing one with this center before. Reminds me of a wax candle. Don't you just want to reach out with a match and light it?

If you like flowers, check out the link below for more photos from bloggers participating in Today's Flowers.

Camera Critters - Collection

2009-06-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

I thought I would do a collection of the critters I capture but don't always post because they get pushed aside for something else I want to post. These are some of the little critters I photographed in my outings the past week or two.

Butterflies from the Butterfly Pavillion at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles.

A rabbit at Descanso Gardens in La Canada/Flintridge above. A bird outside the greenhouse at the Huntington Museum, Library & Botanical Gardens.

Birds at Descanso Gardens.

I can't remember where this interesting little lady bug was from.

And my most favorite capture of a critter this week goes to this poor little lost doggy that some poor kid left behind at the Huntington Museum & Botanical Gardens. He was just standing there on the post standing guard in the Japanese Garden.

If you're not tired of my critters you should see the cute little baby ducks in the post below this one. And if you're really not tired of critters,check out more Camera Critters by clicking on the icon below:

Waddle Waddle Quack Quack

2009-06-19T14:45:00.000-07:00

Again, I apologize for the number of photos in this post but I'm telling a photo story. When I went to The Huntington Museum & Botanical gardens I finally got to see some baby ducks. I was walking along the path in the Japanese garden in the first photo and there is a stream along the left hand side of the photo.

I was so intent on taking shots of the water when I looked up at the where the water dropped off into a little waterfall there was mama and her babies.

Babies were swimming around having a good time, coming to the edge of the fall where I thought they might fall over with the water but they never did.

Mama was watching me carefully, sizing me up to make sure I wasn't going to harm them or come any closer and then she did something that totally surprised me.

I guess she determined that I was no threat and she began to lead the babies out of the water...

And lead them right in front of me at my feet and down the little path I had just walked up.

They just waddled peacefully down the path. I had such a good time taking shots of them!

Sky Watch Friday

2009-06-19T08:45:00.000-07:00

As usual, I couldn't decide on which shot to post so there are more than one here. I haven't plastered this all over my blog but I've been unemployed since March of last year after getting laid off. It's been a struggle and I will testify that I give honor to God for keeping my head above water all of this time. Every bill was met and my refrigerator was always full.

Through this period it has been my photography that allowed me to get off the sofa, get away from the endless resume submissions and interviews that lead nowhere and escape "reality" and just enjoy God's green earth and all of the natural wonders in this world.

It was getting out taking pictures like this that gave me time to find inner peace, dwell on my knowledge of his love and give me some joy.

Standing on my faith was not always easy as the world around me was so negative. I had only my faith to stand on and though the wind of life blew and caused me to waiver, I never fell from the rock on which I stand. I got a call yesterday and heard the words I've been waiting to hear... "are you ready to come work for me?" My eyes still well with tears of joy, tears of knowing my God exists and that he is ALWAYS right on time.

How can anyone look at skies like this and not believe there is a God filled with love? To anyone facing any struggles, not sure what tomorrow will bring... God is there for you if you just reach out and believe. I'm off of my podium now but I just had to share this.

All of these shots were taken within minutes of each other and the rising moon stood over my shoulder as I took them. I took the shot of the moon as I stood ready to get back in my car to go home.

To participate in Sky Watch Friday and/or to see more great photos of the sky from all over the world Click here or on the Sky Watch Icon below:

Watery Wednesday #40

2009-06-16T12:00:00.000-07:00

My World Tuesday - Back At Bolsa Chica

2009-06-15T11:47:00.001-07:00

I apologize in advance for so many pictures but I taken so many it really is hard for me to narrow it down to just a couple.

It was my kind of day, overcast, cloudy and actually could have rained. It wasn't until I was deep inside the wetlands that I realized if it had rained there was no place to hide from it and it was no short trek back to the car. Gratefully, it didn't rain.

White Crowned Heron & Black Necked Stilt

I hope this fella doesn't mind that I took his photo and posted it.

Long Billed Curlew & Blue Heron

Funny, when I took these photos it was from such a distance I, as well as some other people on the path, thought we were looking at babies in the nest. It wasn't until I got home and uploaded that I realized there were actually three birds in the nest and from the other side what we though we saw moving were feathers, not little beaks.

Take a cyber trip around the world by visiting the meme My World Tuesday.

Anise Swallowtail & Old World Swallowtail

2009-06-13T04:39:00.000-07:00

More shots from my last trip to the Butterfly Pavilion. This is the Anise Swallowtail. What a pretty little thing this is. Since this exhibit is on display through August or September, I thought they must have new shipments brought in periodically to replace the butterflies.

They're so fragile and so short. I learned that they actually "grow" these butterflies in the museum and when they've emerged from their crysallis and have stretched their wings, they bring them down to the Pavillion. I would love to get a look inside of that room.

I thought this was an interesting tidbit of info. Like all swallowtail caterpillars, if disturbed, it will suddenly evert bright orange osmeteria (or "stinkhorns") from just behind its head, glandular structures which give off a foul odor. (Quoted from Wikipedia.)

Oops! Wait. Now that I'm looking at this, the body is a different color than the Anise. I don't think this last shot is the same butterfly. LOL! I have to go look this last one up. Okay. The one above is an Old World Swallowtail. That calls for one more photo.

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Sky Watch Friday

2009-06-11T20:47:00.000-07:00

More of my shots from the Motocross demonstration at the Temecula hot air balloon and wine festival this past weekend. As you can see, these guys were flying and I couldn't take my eyes off the sky.

He seemed to be sitting here at the top of the ramp thinking, "I'll be up there in just a minute."

To participate in Sky Watch Friday and/or to see more great photos of the sky from all over the world Click here or on the Sky Watch Icon below: